By David Lohr
October 8, 2007
GIRARD, PA (Crime Library) — When it comes to crime, there is no shortage of tales of retail thefts or grievous assaults. These crimes are an everyday occurrence. As a society we are accustomed to them and we barely take notice when we skim through the police blotters in our local newspapers. However, every now and again a case stands apart from the rest. I am, of course, referring to the "stupid criminal" — a special breed of offender who seemingly defies common sense and the ability to strategically plot a crime. Recently, I came across one such "stupid criminal" case in a rural Pennsylvania town.
 |
| Girard Pennsylvania Map |
Girard has an estimated population of 3,164 people. The town is situated on the Lake Shore Railroad and is perhaps most famous for its annual Dan Rice Day's celebration. Rice was a famous clown and circus owner of the 19th century, who built an estate in Girard in 1853. Biographer David Carlyon once called him "the most famous man you've never heard of." Situated far away from the hustle and bustle of Erie, Pennsylvania, the closest major metropolitan area, Girard is not a place one would generally expect a desperate criminal to strike. However, that is exactly what happened on the evening of September 26, when 19-year-old criminal mastermind Natasha Lubenski walked into a local Family Dollar store.
Employees from the store declined to discuss the case; however, Crime Library was able to obtain a copy of the police report, detailing the incident.
 |
| Family Dollar Store |
According to the report, Lubenski appeared to be intoxicated when she entered the store. She staggered around in a drunken manner and aimlessly pushed her shopping cart into shelves, knocking several items to the ground. Lubenski's actions caught the eye of store clerk Evelyn Smith, who decided to follow her around the store. Lubenski spent the next 45 minutes filling her entire cart and her purse with a variety of store merchandise. Uncertain what to do, Evelyn placed a call to the manager of another Family Dollar store and asked for advice. The manager suggested that Evelyn approach Lubenski and ask her if she wanted to check out, citing it was almost closing time. Evelyn took the manager's suggestion and relayed the message to Lubenski. The tactic appeared to work, as Lubenski changed direction and pushed her cart towards the front of the store.
"She headed for the checkout and in a split second, pushed the cart straight over to the door and tried to leave," reads Evelyn's written statement contained in the police report. "My clerk grabbed the cart and tried to hold on to it, [but the] suspect pushed her aside and proceeded out the door."
Next Page
For More Daily Crime News
default
increase
decrease
email
print
